Free Summer Block Party on Thursday at Gardner Park

NEWPORT — The 3rd Annual Summer Block Party in the Kingdom, a free community-wide event, will be held June 16 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Gardner Park in Newport.

Kids 18-years-old and younger will be treated to a free meal from the Lunchbox food truck as Green Mountain Farm-to-School officially kicks off its summer meal program, which will be serving free meals to kids in the NEK the rest of the summer.

There will also be over 15 community partners with booths, live music, and a family fun-run that begins at Gardner Park.

“We’re love kicking off our summer meal program with the Summer Block Party because it’s one of our ways of saying thank you to the community who continues to support Green Mountain Farm-to-School each year,” said Becca Mitchell, consumer education coordinator with GMFTS, “It also gives us an opportunity to showcase the important work we continue to do even when school isn’t in session.”

The family-fun run, which will be a free, one-mile run or walk for all members of the family beginning and ending in Gardner Park at 3 p.m., will be hosted by Kingdom Games, a local group that organizes and promotes outdoor activities in the Northeast Kingdom. All ages are encouraged to bring their sneakers and run or walk.

Games and activities for families will include a petting zoo, free ice cream from Kingdom Creamery, a climbing wall from the Vermont National Guard, and a selection of food for adults that are available for purchase from the Lunchbox food truck.

“We hope to see the whole community come out and enjoy a fun afternoon,” said Katherine Sims, executive director, GMFTS.

The event is free and open to the public thanks to local businesses like Community National Bank.